Abdominal supporter



(No Model.)

S. L. FOWLER. BDOMINAL SUPPRIERl No. 606,410'. Patented JuneZB, 1898.

JN I/EN T 0R W w by Allarm] WYTNESSES Nrrn SUSANNAH L. FOWLER, OFKENSINGTON, MARYLAND..

ABDONIINAL SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. ooe-rio, dated June 28,1888. Application filed August 13, 1897. Serial No. 648,109. (No model.)

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact descrip- Y tion of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. p

My invention relates to an improvement in abdominal supporters, and moreespecially to that class intended for use during convalescence followinga surgical operation, such as laparotomy.

In a large number of instances surgeons desire a supporter for theirpatients which can be made to support a certain portion of the anatomyor some particular organ in addition to affording a general support, andthe supporters now in use are not suited to this purpose for severalreasons.

The ob ject of my invention is the provision of a supporter,- whichshall be readily adjustable to the form of the wearer and which shallgive support to weak portions of the anatomy without binding orotherwise interfering with the free movement of the body in any desireddirection. Y

Another object is the provision of a supporter which shall retain theparts in a fixed positionwhile healing after an operation. This is avery desirable feature and Very necessary. A source of danger in manyoperations is the tendency of the internal organs to force themselvesoutward through the incision made by the operator, thus producingrupture and other dangerous complications. The prevention of this is oneof the objects of my invention, and I accomplish the same by theconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, in which-Figurel is a front View of my supporter.- Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3,a view of the back; and Fig. t is an enlarged section on line 4 4, Fig.l.

In the drawings, A designates the two sections of the supporter,composed of any suitable material, preferably textile;

B are pads constructed of some stiff material, preferably buckram. Theuse of buckram or other material of a like character affords sufficientstiffening and permits of the circulation of air. Attention tosanitation must be given, as the constant use of the snpporter is sureto produce unpleasant odors and other offensive features if properprecautions are neglected. For this reason all solid or dense materialis absolutely to be prohibited. i

The pads are broad and iiat and located .and shaped to extend Well downthe abdomen and be drawn in to fit the contour thereof at their lowerends. On account of the extended pad, adapted to be fitted to the shapeof the abdomen, they exert a pressure at the sides of the incision andhold the incision in the proper closed condition for healing. Thearrangement of the pads is effected by securing them' in pockets on theouter face of the su pporter, constructed bystitohing a number of piecesof silk or other smooth fabric of the form and sizeto be determined bythe needs of the particular case to the face of the supporter andinclosing the pad, previously cut to a form? to correspond with the sizeand shape of. the pocket within them.l The number of pads may thus becontrolled by the wants of the wearer and may be shifted from point topoint without injury to the rest of the supporter. Silk is preferred forthe pockets, because of the smooth finish it gives, but any desiredmaterial may be used.

Inserted in the side of each section of'. the supporter is an elasticweb C, the use of which at this point is obvious. For additional supportat this point the construction maybe altered by inserting the elasticweb in the center of the section only, closing the top and bottom bycontinuing the ducking across the top and bottom, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2. At the rear a suitable securing means is provided, suchas a lace d, preferably elastic, threaded through eyelets D in the endsof the sections.

To the forward end of one of the sections is secured along the edgethereof a thin metal plate E, provided with lugs e', adapted to engagewith studs f on a similar plate, secured flexibly to the other sectionback from the edge by means of an inclosing pocketF,which IOO ' isaffixed to the said second section by sewi ing it at the top and bottomand at the rear edge, as indicated at f'. One edge of the pocket beingthus left free permits of its being grasped in the operation offastening. The front portion of the section underlying this plate isstiffened and forms a iiap F', which when the two sections are broughttogether extends to the front edge of the pad B in the first section andaffords additional strength to that portion of the supporter which isdirectly over the incision, thereby insuring against the dangerheretofore described of the forcing of the incision, and also serves toprevent discomfort or injury to the wearer which would otherwise resultfrom inward pressure of the metallic fastening .means The two platescoming together at this point also makes it impossible for the internalorgans to press their way out of the incision. The importance of thisreinforcement at this point will be more apparent when it is understoodthat a majority of the operations require the incision to be made at apoint of the abdomen which would fall directly beneath that point ofreinforcement. In operations at other points of the abdomen specialsupporters are required and the reinforcement is placed accordingly.

Sewed to the rear of each section near the extremity of the same is aband of tape G of sufficient length to permit of its being fastened to apiece of small rubber tubing g. Similar pieces of tape are fastened tothe other end of each piece of 'tubing as a means of fastening the samewithin buckles secured to the front of each section. After the supporterhas been placed upon the wearer the rubber tubing is passed between thelegs of the patient and then drawn up in front, and the tape on the freeend is passed through the buckle II and after being drawn as .tight asdesired secured therein. The buckles may` be dispensed with entirelyJhowever, and both of the tapes secured direct to the supporter.

When the supporter is thus adjusted and the tapes drawn tight, the lowerpart of the supporter is drawn well down and close into the body at thelower portion of the abdomen and acts as a support for all of theabdomen, at the same time giving support to all of the other partsdesired to be supported. Prolapsus uteri and other kindred complaintscan be treated successfully in this manner.

The rubber tubing can be replaced with straps or tape or elastic bands;but I prefer the tubing, because it presents a rounded surface to thewearer at all points, thus avoiding all chaflng or cutting of the parts,and for the further reason that it can be Washed without injury orinconvenience and is cheap and durable.

The supporter can be made in sizes or can be fitted to measure,according to the taste and means of the wearer. A neat appearance issecured by finishing the edges in silk braid.

I am aware that many minor changes can be made in the construction andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

An abdominal bandage for use after laparotomy comprising two flexiblesections A each having a substantially horizontal upper edge and curvedlower edge, an elastic web C intermediate the front and rear, steels Eprovided with fastening devices to unite the fronts, a flap located onone section underlying the steels, textile pads B placed parallel to thefront steels, a lacing device for the back of the bandage, and perinealstraps G, g.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SUSANNAH L. FOV LER.

Vitnesses:

J. ENos RAY, J r., S. DANA LINCOLN.

